Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-04

TO frame his gratitude, ''that can't say |
what | want to-"
The Captain, who saw his mistake, !
was instantly appeascd. He patted
Tad ON the shoulder in the most friend
" manner imaginable. and after clear
ing his throat told him in low tone
that Solomon hit the nail square on the
head when he said that there's Provi-
dence that shapes our ends, refuse them
as much as we've a mind to. and then,
remembering that the small sachel was
still ia Tad's possession. he got together
his writing materials, and, with the
help Of the Business Mans Assistant"
and Every Man His Own Lawyer"
drew up the following notice for publ
cation:
ITO All Whom II May Concern:
"I3e IT known that ON the evening OF March
%, lS'-, a certain party left on a seat in the
Broad Street Station, city of Philadelphia,
hand bag supposed TO contain valuaDles. Now,
therefore. II said party shall at the time OF
reading this notification or as soon thcreafte,-
ward as may be possible, communicate by let
ter with the subscriber, describing said bag, to-
gether with such other information as shall
satisfy the subscriber aforesaid that said
spondent is the true and lawful owner thereof,
the handbag before mentioned will be duly re-
turned on the payment OF the sum OF Ave dol
lars, 10 cover expenses OF advertising. etc.
(Signed) CAPTAIN JETHRO FIAGG,
4" Residence, Bixport, State OF Maine"
Having finished this rather remarka-
BE production. Captain FlagS read it
aloud for the edification of Tad and
Joe Whitney. who had just returned
from the kitchen.
'Tain't the way I'd put it, Uncle
Jeth,' remarked the irrepressible Joe,
| with his mouth full of doughnut and
n suspicious bunchincss about his
pockets. rs Captain Flagg laid down
the paper with look of conscious
pride. I'D just say: Pound in Broad
Street station. Philadelphia, on such
and-such a night, a handbag. Prove
Property and pay charges. Address
Captain Jethro Flagg, Bixport,
Maine"
Captain Flagg regarded his auda-
cious nephew with look in which
mild Indignation was blended with
pity. "Mebbe you would, Joseph" lie
sail. with come severity, ''mcbbe you
would; but, considerin' that I'm jest a
few years older'n you, I've took the
liberty of doin' this my own way"
"All right. U.cle Jeth.' returned
the unabashed youth, "if you don't
mind. don't, I'm sure. Say, Tad, !"
he remarked. briskly. turning to the
secretly amused youth. "how'd you
like me to go over To Miss Smiths in
the morning and speak n good word
for YOU, eh?'
I'D like you to go with me ever so
much" warmly replied Tad. He did
not rely much upon Joe's verbal rec
concentration. but he had sort of
feeling that the moral support of his
presence would be great deal.
"I'll call for you right after break
fast" briefly returned Joe, with twin
klc in the eye, that, had Polly been
present, she would have understood at
once TO mean mischief. But she wars
helping Mrs. Flagg with supper prep
arations, and the Captain was busy
sending off the copies of his notice to
n couple of city papers, so Tad had no
warning rs to Joe Whitney's love of
( practical jokes. And all the way home
Joe chOked down certain little twinges
of conscience, by representing to him
self that it was "only little fun, any
way" an excuse which fancy has
been common to mischievOus youth
from the tabled stoning of the frogs
down to the present day.
Miss Smith was " shooting" some
hens out of her yard as Joe came by
the house, and he at once volunteered
his services with marked success. Send
ing the last hen shrieking across the
street with n stick following closely at
carefully.
"Oh. l say, Miss Smith," he re-
marked. rs he was turning away, 81
told Tad-the boy that Uncle Jeth
: brought home this trip-that I'd come
: over with him in the morning-he'I
! sort of bashful with strangers"
"Nobody'd accuse yoW of any thing
. of the kind, Joe Whitney," was Mis-.
r Smiths wncompromising answer. Sh,
\ was tall, thin, angular and forty, will
: good heart, but rather uncertain tenn
i per. And Joe was not n prime favor
i tie with Miss Smith, by reason o
E his rather peculiar tendencies to mis-
I chief
i "Tad's a real good boy. guess,
c said Joe, ignoring the personality, "bu
h ii los as hard of heaIin' as Uncle Jetl
Il says-for heard him say Tad was dee
J as haddock--you'll have to boiler lik
old boots to make him hear" And
Z without waiting to be questioned far
Their. Joe scuddcd homeward.
True to his promise, Joe was oil
e hand bright and early on the followin:
i morning Captain Flagg had gon
Z down to superintcnd the discharge q
II the MARY Us" cargo, and Mrs
Flagg was in the kitchen. Only Poll,
Il and Bounce followed the two boys t,
= the gate.
70 Remember. now! no tricks-Joe,
e called out Polly, warningly; "goo
d luck to you Tad" and she waved he
e hand encouragingly. rs the latte
= turned with very full heart, to Loo
> back ut the old home whose occupant
u had given him so friendly reception
"Oh. isn't this nicer said Tad, Ell
le Enthusiastically, as he drew in gre'
t breath of the sweet, pure air, an
Is looked at the quiet beauty of the lane
m scape about him. Behind the villac
ne rose n range Of spruce and pine CO.
al cred hills. All round were ferti
I'd farms. and. i'm the eyes of the city-br,
hoy. Bixport and its surroundin;
ny seemed sort of miniature Paradise.
n mot so bad" patronizingly asscn
'ly ed his companion. And rs they cross,
small stone bridge which spanned
Dc deep narrow stream. Joe stopped al